Machine for applying straps to bundles



Oct. 22, 1929. w. 8. RYAN MACHINE FOR APPLYING STRAPS TO BUNDLES Filed Jun 6, 1924 4 Shee cS-Sheet 1 Oct. 22, 1929. w 5. RYAN 1,732,619

MACHINE FOR APPLYING STRAPS TO BUNDLES Filed June 6, 1924 4 SheetS- Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1929. w. 5. RYAN MACHINE FOR APPLYING STRAPS TO BUNDLES Filed June 6, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 anon V601: A Eli/ Toma Oct. 22, 1929. w. s. RYAN MACHINE FOR APPLYING STRAPS TO BUNDLES Filed June 6, 1924 Sheets-Sheet 4 WXf/ V MW @514 @Qbtovmm Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER S. BYAI N', 01 WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARRETT COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR APPLYING STRAPS TO BUNDLES Application filed June 6, 1924. Serial No. 718,239.

This invention relates to a device for strapping packages or bundles and the like. It relates more particularly to a device for strapping bundles of'shingles w th bands of fiat metal though it is not restricted to this particular use. fasten straps or hands to packages of shingles of varying sizes.

By this invention packages of different sizes may have applied to them a plurality of metal straps which straps are red from rolls of strap material and automatically cut off in proper lengths to be applied to the packages. The straps can be applied so as to have substantially the same tension regardless of the size of the particular package. The packages to be strapped are also automatically fed to and removed from the device and the ends of the straps are at the proper time automatically fastened together.

as, for example, by welding.

The advantages and OPGIELtIOIhOf the device will be obvious as the descriptlon proceeds. The device will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in WlllCll Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device part- 1y broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sketch of the toggle operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same with parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sketch showing how the band embracing device operates;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the details;

Fig; 6 is an end View of the same;

Fig. 7 is-a plan view looking at the other side of the details shown in Fig. 5 w1th the operating parts in a different posit on;

Fig. 8 is a reverse end View) similar to Fig. 6 showing a different posltlon of the member;

Fig. 9 is a side view of another one ofthe details;

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 10 is an end view of a detail; and

It is adapted to securely.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of some of the electrical connections.

In the drawings reference character 1 indicates a frame upon which the device is mounted. The frame 1 carries a horizontal- 1y extending table 2 which has parallel transverse slots 2' across the upper face thereof. A pulley 3, which may be driven from any convenient source of power, is mounted upon the shaft 4 which is journalled in bearings on the frame 1 and carries a pinion 5 (Figs. 2 and 3) that meshes with a gear 6 mounted on shaft 7 which carries a pair of cams 8 and 8 (Fig. 1). The cams 8 and 8' contact with cam rollers 9 and 9' which are mounted in the bifurcated ends of the bar rels 10 and 10. Pins 11 and 11 passing through the bifurcations of the-barrels 10 and 11 serve as bearings for the cam rollers 9 and 9'. These pins 11 and 11' extend to one side to provide pivots for arms 12 and 12 which arms are pivoted at their other ends upon stationary pivots 13 and 13'. The barrels 10 and 10 are hollow at their upper ends and contain compression springs 14: (one shown in Fig. 2) Internally threaded plungers 15 and 15 extend into the bar rels 10 and 10' and have threaded therein rods 16 and 16 which have heads 17 and 17 that are pivoted on pins 18 and 18' (see Fig. 1). These pins 18 and 18' have depending hooks h to which are fastened springs S,.the lower ends of which are attached to the frame 1 at S. The pins 18 and 18' pass through the lower ends of hell crank levers 19 and 19' (Figs. 1 and 3) which are rigidly attached to revoluble shafts 20 and 20', the shaft 20 being mounted in laterally adjustable bearings 21 and the shaft 20 being mounted in laterally adjustable bearings 22 (Fig. 2). The shaft 20 carries at its end opposite the hell crank 19 (Fig. 3) and in alignment with the upper arm of the bell crank 19, the arm 23, and the shaft 20' carries at its end opposite the bell crank 19', the arm 23' similar to, and in alignment with, the upper arm of hell crank 19. The outer ends of the upper arms of the bell cranks 19 and 19, as well as the outer ends of the arms 23 and 23', each carries a movable bearing 25. (Fig. 2) pressed in one direction by means of the compression sprin channels along their upper surfaces (Fig. i

7) in which channels gripping members 31 are placed so that they can slide longitudinally in said channel, compression springs 32 moving the same in one direction. The springs 32 maybe covered with cover plates 32' (Fig. 3). The other end of the gripping member 31 is connected by toggle links 33 and 34, one of which is pivotedto the fixed pivot 35. The gripping member 31 has notches 36 (Fig. 9) along its upper surface spaced apart the same distance as the transverse slots 2" intable 2 and there are corresponding slots 4 37 with wide-mouths 38 transversely across the top of bars 26 (Figs. 3 and 7). An enlargement 39 (Fig. 7) near the end of the channel 30 in bar 26 permits the toggle links 33 and 34 to operate, and a slot '40 across the face of the bar 26 merges into the enlargement 39. A U-shaped toggle operator 41 is slidably mounted inslot 40 and has depen ding therefrom 9. lug 42 and a pin 43 which extend on opposite sides of the connecting pivot'between the links 33 and 34 so that the toggle will be straightened out and trip when the U-shaped operator is moved backwards and forwards.

An intermittent gear 48 (Figs. land 2) is fixed to the shaft 7 and meshes at intervals with the intermittent gear 49 loosely mounted on shaft 50. A sprocket 51 on the hub of gear 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) drives a sprocket 1 chain 52 which passes around the sprocket 53 which drives shaft 54 that .is mounted in bearings 55 on frame 1 (Figs. 2 and 3). A sprocket 56 driven by shaft 54 carries a chain 57 (Fig. 2) which drives sprocket 58 loosely mounted on shaft 59. Shaft 59 is supported in journal housing 59'. A clutch 60 is splined on the shaft 59 and causes the shaft 59 to revolve when the tooth 61 on the sprocket 58 is caused to engage the recess 62 by movement of the clutch 60. This clutch .60 is moved by pressing downwardly upon the outer end of the arm 64 (Fig. 3) which carries a resilient end 65 extending normally through a slot in the table 2 and'slightly above the top surface of said table. When the arm 64 is pressed" downwardly it turns the shaft 63 which carries the operating arm 66 for the clutch 60 and thereby causes the clutch to engage. A series of flanges 67 are rigid on the shaft 59 and are revolved thereby when the shaft revolves.

Rings 68 are interposed between the flanges 67 and spring discs 69 and are urged by means of discs 69 and collars 70 towards the flanges 67 so as to provide frictional driving or feeding means for the straps. K is an idler rod residing in slots (Fig. 2) located in the upper part of housings 59 and extends across but slightly above faces of flanges 67 to keep the straps s in position. Further illustration of this feature is thought unnecessary inasmuch as such devices are well known in the art.

The shaft 54 carries at its outer end a spiral gear 71 (Fig.3) which drives spiral gear 72 on shaft 73 mounted in bearings 74 on the frame 1. This shaft 73 carries a sprocket 75 over which a conveyor chain 76 is carried. This chain is shown broken away at one end but passes over an idler sprocketwheel not shown. This conveyor chain 76 has attachments 77 at intervals which attachments serve to move the packages or bundles along the top side of the table 1 between guides g. The top side of the chain 76 passes through aligned channels 78 (Figs. 2 and 3).

A second pair of cams-80 are mounted on and driven by shafts 7 (Fig. 1) and contact with cam rollers 81 on shaft 82 which is rigidly connected at its respective ends to the guide shoes 83 and 83 which guide shoes have 'depending extensions 84 and 84 respectively that serve to guide the same vertically on shaft 7 (Figs. 1 and 2). Two studs 85 extend laterally from one side of shoe 83 near its upper portion and each one has pivoted there'- to a connecting link 86, the upper ends of each being bifurcated and pivoted respectively to the arms 87 and 87' (Figs. 1 and 3),

which are rigidly attached to the revoluble shafts 88 and 88 which in turn carry at their other ends upwardly projecting arms 89 and 89. The upper ends of the arms 89 and 89' are bifurcated and embrace slidable shafts 91 and 91' (Fig. 3), the shaft 91 being provided with two collars 90 on opposite edges of the bifurcated arm 89 and the shaft 91 being provided with two collars 90 on opposite edges of the bifurcatedarm 89- Collars 92 and 92 on the shafts 91 and 91 contact with the inner ends of the U-shaped toggle operators 41. The shaft 91 also carries two collars 93 near its outer end which collars operate one arm of the bell crank 94 which is pivoted on a fixed pivot at 95. The other arm 96 of the bell crank is pivoted to one end of the link 97, the other end of which is pivoted to the knife bar 99 by means of the pivot 98. The knife bar 99 slides between the supporting guide 100 on one side and the shear bits 101 on the other side. The supporting guide 100 is provided at intervals with wide mouthed notches 102 corresponding in number and position to the slots 2. in the table 2 and there are corresponding notches 103 along the top edge of the knife bar 99. A

cover plate 104is disposed above the uide 100 and serves as a cover plate for the niife bar 99. This cover plate 104 is provided with recesses 105 through which the ends of cut oil straps can be passed upwardly and the cover plate 104 is also provided with a slot 106 along'which the pivot pin 98 reciprocates longitudinally.

Rods 110 and 110 (Figs. 1 and 2) have their lower ends slidable in holes in the top portion of shoes 83 and 83' respectively. These rods are surrounded by compression springs 111 and 111' which bear against heads 112 and 112 at the upper ends of the rods. The heads 112 and 112 are pivoted to the 7 lower side of the vertically movable table 113 (also shown in Fig. 3) which is guided by the guides 114 through the table 2. Two transverse slots 115 are provided across the upper surface of table 113 and register with two of the slots 2 in table 2. These slots have sloping surfaces 116- along one edge (Fig. 1).

An intermittent gear 117 (F1g. 1) driven by the shaft 7, meshes with intermittent gear 118 loose on. the shaft 50. A mitre gear 119 on the hub of gear 118 meshes with mitre gear 120 on shaft 121 which carries at its upper end a mitre gear 122 which meshes with mitre gear 123 (Fig. 2) carried by shaft 124 mounted in hearings 125 on standards 126 WlllCll rest on the frame 1. A mitre gear 127 on the outer end of shaft 124 (Figs. 1 and 2) meshes with mitre gear 128 on shaft 129 that is mounted in bearings 130 on standards 126 and 126'. The revoluble shaft 129 1s capable of slight longitudinal reciprocation for a purpose which is to be described later.

The shaft 129 carries a cam 131 (Figs. 1 and 4).- This cam 131 operates one arm of bell crank 132 that is pivoted at 133 and whose other arm carries two side by side rollers 134 (Fi 4). A spring 135 serves to maintain the loell crank 132 normally in contact with the pin 136.

A series of cams 140 are disposed along the shaft 129 in such a manner that they operate in succession against the cam shoes 141 mounted on levers 142 and electrically nsulated therefrom. The levers 141 are pivoted on pivots 143 held in insulated bearings 144. Supporting plates 145 and 145' (Figs. 1 and 2) of metal such as "bronze, are aflixed to the standards 126 so as to be electrically insulated therefrom and they are also msulated from each other. Sto pins 146 for the levers 142 project outwar ly from one of the plates 145 and springs 147 normally retain the levers 142 against the stop p1ns 146. Stationary electrode holders 148 and 148 are connected to the plates 145 and 145 and carry stationary electrodes 149 and 149'. Electrode holders 150 are swivelled on the-lower ends of the levers 142 and each one carries two electrodes 151 and 151 (Fig. 11). A

vertically slidable rod 152 is mounted in hearings on the plate 145' (Fig. 1) and is provided with collars which'act as stops. A sprin '153 on the rod 152 is dis osed between one 0' these collars and one o the bearings. .When the rod 152 is raised it closes the contacts 154 and 154'. A lever 155 pivoted on 9. lug 156 attached to and insulated fromthe standard 126 carries a contact 157 that contacts with an adjustable contact screw 157' on timing 158 which is also attached to and insulated from the standard 126. A spring 159, one end of which is attached to the insulated point, tends to turn the lever 155 to the left. An insulated plate 160 on the end of shaft 129 is adapted to come into contact with an adjustable screw 161 on the lever 155. The other end of shaft 129 is provided with collars 162 and 163. A compression spring 164 is interposed between the collar 163 and the bearing 130. The operation is as follows:

The shaft 7 is set in motion by driving the pulley 3 whereupon the intermittent gear 48 drives intermittent gear 49 (Fig. 2) Whose sprocket 51 through sprocket chain 52 drives sprocket 53 (Fig. 3) which drives shaft 54 and through spiral gears 71 and 72 drives shaft 7 3 and sprocket 75 which causes the conveyor chain 76 to move one of its attachments 77 to carry forward a bundle or package to the predetermined point on the table 2 whereupon the package stops because the intermittent gear 48 has reached its dwell position. At the same time the sprocket 56 on shaft 54 (Fig. 2) drives sprocket 58 on shaft 59 after the clutch has been operated by the bundle or package pressing downwardly upon the spring end 65 of the arm 64, whereupon the friction feed wheels feed inwardly a plurality of straps (four being shown in this illustration) so that these straps are carried across in the grooves provided therefor transversely of the table. These straps are fed inwardly on edge through the notches 103 in bar 99, the slots 37 in bar 26', the slots 2 in table 2, the slots 115 in table 113 and slots 37 in the other bar 26 and notches 36 in the other gripping member 31, until their ends project a short distance beyond the latter bar 26. The circumferential length of the feed wheel on the shaft 59 is such that the proper lengths of straps will be fed forward for one operation of the intermittent gear 48. If for any reason a bundle or package to be strapped had not previously been carried forward by the conveyor chain 76, the lever 64 would not have been operated and the clutch 60 would not have closed and consequently the shaft 59 would not revolve to feed the stra s inwardly. The single tooth 61 on sproc et 58 and single recess 62 in the clutch ring make it certain that the timing of the strap feeding wheels will always be correct and in proper relation with the other operating parts of the mechanism, After the bundle has i been carried to the predetermined-point and stopped and aftert e straps 8 have/been fed" electrode holders 148. The springs 111 and 111' will, of course, be'compressed more or less depending upon the thickness of the bundle to be strapped. At the same time, the

- cams 80 while raising the shoe 83 operate the arms 87 and 87' by means of connecting links 86 thus revolving slightly shafts 88 and 88" thereby shifting the shafts 91 and '91 outwardly. The outward motion of the shafts 91 and 91 cause the collars 92 and 92 to press against the inner ends of the U-shaped toggle operating device 41 (Figs. 7 and 8) thereby straightening the toggle consisting of the links 33 and 34 which moves the gripping members longitudinally in the channels 30 and cause the straps to be gripped between the shoulders of the several notches 36 and the edges of the slots 37. These shoulders maybe slightly rounded-to avoid danger of the straps being sheared off. At the same time, the outer end of shaft 91 (Fig. 3), by means of the collars 93, causes the bell crank 94 to turn thereby through means of the link 97 moving. the knife bar 99 longitudinally so that the respective straps are sheared off between the shear bits 101 and the notches of the knife bar. It will be noted that as soon as the straps are sheared ofi, each end of them is capable of being raised vertically while the middle portion is retained in position. After the straps have been fed in, sheared ofi and gripped near their ends in the bars 26 on both sides of the table 2, the cams 8 and 8' on shaft 7 contact with the rollers 9 and 9 thereby raising the barrels 1O and 10, which turn the bell crank 19 and 19'.

At the same time, the shaft 20 and 20' are correspondingly turned thereby causing the arms 23 and 23'- to be correspondingly turned. The turning of the arms 19 and 19,

23 and 23' lift the bars 26 and 26 vertically carrying the outer ends of the'straps upwardly in a circumferential path as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. The ends of the straps 8 are firmly gripped in the bars 26 and are retained there on edge position while the intermediate part of these straps turns 90 so that their flat sides lie against the lower side and edges of the bundle or. package. The bars 26 turn completely over through an angle of 180 during their travel from their initial position to the top side of the bundle or package as shown in Fig. 4. At the same time the ends of the straps overlap to a certain extenton the top side of the bundle having passed through slots 165 in plates 145 and 145' respectively and between the stationary electrodes 149 and movable electrodes 151, the ends finally becoming parallel with eachother and lying, still edgewise, on to of the bundle in contact with each other. The final movement of the cams 8 and 8 cause the springs 14 in the barrels 10 and 10 to become compressed thereby exerting considerable force to turn the arms 19, 19' 23 and. 23, thus exerting considerable tension to cause the gripping device 31 to draw the bands 8 tightly around the bundle or package. The amount of tension to be exerted upon the straps to tighten the same can be predetermined by adjusting the internally threaded plungers 15 and 15 on the threaded rods 16 and 16. A suflicient rest .eriod is provided on the cams 8 to retain t 1e over lapping ends of the straps on top of the bunde in position for the proper length of time for the same to be fastened together.

The overlapping ends of the straps may be fastened together in any convenient way. One of theways in which the ends can be fastened together is by spot-welding the same electrically and this will now be specifically described although it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to this particular method of attaching the two ends of each strap together on top of the bundle. The intermittent gear 117 on shaft 7 (Fig.

1) drives the intermittent gear 118 whose mitre gear 119 drives mitre gear 120 on shaft 121 which carries at its upper end a gear 122 (Fig. 2) which meshes with a gear 123 on shaft 124. The mitre gear 127 on the end of shaft 124 (Figs. 1 and 2) meshes with m'itre gear 128 rigidly connected on shaft 129, which may be oscillated slightly longitudinally. The cams 131 and the series of four cams 140 on the shaft 129 are spaced at 72 intervals around the shaft 129. The first cam 140 of the series turns the lever 142 and causes the movable electrodes 151 and 151 to compress the overlapping ends between said electrodes and stationary electrodes 149 and 149. A further slight movement in this cam 140 puts increased tension upon the electrodes and at the same time the spring 164 yields so that the shaft 129 is shifted slightly longitudinally towards the right thereby causing the contact arm 155 to close contact 157. By referring to Fig. 11 where corresponding portions are shown diagrammatically and are correspondingly numbered, the electrical operation will be understood. Contact is then broken at 157 and 157' by the cam 140 passing beyond the most prominent point of upper end of the lever 142 and the succeeding cams of the series 140 operate similarly in succession. After the last cam 140 of the series hascoper ated and caused the last of the four straps to be spot-welded, the cam 131 on the shaft 129 operates the lever 132 thereby causing the rollers 134 (Figs. 1 and 4) to engage the ends of .the U-shaped toggle operating members pressing them outwardly and thereby trip ping the toggles consisting of the links 33 and 34 whereupon the spring 32 shifts the gripping members 31 so as to turn the bands loose and permit the welded portion of the bands to flop over with their flat sides against the top of the bundle- As soon as the dwell portion of the cams Band 8 which caused the bars 26 and 26 to be lifted, pass the rollers 9 and 9', the tension springs S (one of which is shown in Fig. 2) cause, the arms 19 and 19 and 23 and 23 to return and bring back the bars 26 and 26. When the bars 26 and V 26 approach the end of their return travel" the cam fingers 28 thereon contact with the stationary cams 29 thereby causing the bars 26 and 26' to be revolved to their normal positions with their flat faces horizontal.

The cams 80 are provided with dwell portions so proportioned that the table 113 descends by gravity simultaneously with the descent of the bars 26 and 26. At the same time the shear bar 99 is returned to open position and the shafts 91 and 91 are drawn inwardly to their normal positions. When the next series of operations begin, the strapped bundle is carried forward and away b the carrier chain 7 6 while the next bundle is being brought into place, the forward edges of the slots bein beveled as more clearly shown at 116 (Flg. 1) to avoid having the straps catch on the edges of the slots as the bundle is being carried away. r

If desired, the straps may be run between rollers with teeth or corrugations at intervals so that the straps will be provided with transverse corrugations tor the purpose of imparting thereto the property of stretching when tension is applied to them. In this way the straps will shorten if the package shrinks thus maintaining themselves in firm contact with the package. In packaging shingles it will be desirable to crimp the straps or rovide corrugations therein at such positions that the corrugations in the straps will lie along the edges of the bundles of shingles rather than along the top or bottom of the bundles. I

It is obvious that this invention can also be used to apply wires or other somewhat still binders to bundles or packages and that the overlapping ends of such binders can be fastened together in any convenient manner as for example, by twisting the same together and accordingly the terms strap and band are intended to include wire or any suitable flexible metallic fasteners or binders.

I claim: a y

1. In a device for applying straps to packages, means to feed a flat strap with its edge towards a package, means for gripping said strap near each of its ends and passing said ends around said package until said ends overlap.

2. In a device for applying straps to packages, means to feed a flat strap with its edge towards a package, means for gripping sald strap near each of its ends and passing said ends around said package until said ends overlap without permitting said ends to turn circumferentially of said strap.

3. In a device for applying straps to packages, means to feed a flat strap with its edge towards a package, means for gripping said strap near each of its ends and passing said ends around saidpackage until said ends overlap while permitting one side of the in-- termedlate portion of said strap to contact with said package.

4. In a device for applying straps to packages, means for gripping a strap near each of its ends, means for moving said gripping means to pass said strap about the sides and over the top of said package with the ends of said strap in overlapping relation and means for fastening said ends together.

5. In a device for applying bands to packages, means to feed a plurality of bands to a package and cut off predetermined lengths of said bands, and means for gripping said cut oil portions simultaneously near their ends and for passing said ends in opposite directions around said package.

6. In a device for applyin bands to packages, means to feed a plura ity of bands to a package with their edges towards said package, knives for cutting off predetermined lengths of said bands, and means for gripping said cut off portions simultaneously near their ends and for passing said ends in opposite directions around said package without permitting said ends to turn circumferentially of said bands.

7. In a device for applying bands to packages, means to feed a plurality of bands to a package, knives for cutting ofi' predetermined lengths of said bands, and means for gripping said out off portions simultaneously near their ends and for passin said ends in opposite directions around sai package until their ends overlap with their sides in contact.

8. In a device for applying bands to packages, means to feed a plurality of bands to a package, means to cut oil? predetermined lengths of said bands, means for gripping said cut oil portions simultaneously near their ends and passing said ends in opposite directions around said package and means for fastening said ends together.

9. In a device for applying straps to packages, means comprising a toggle joint for gripping a strap near each of its ends and for passmg said ends around said package until said ends overlap.

10. In a device for applying straps to packages, means for gripping a strap near each of its ends, means for moving said gripping means to pass said stra about the sldes and over the top of said pac age with the ends of ages, means to feed a p n to feed the plurality of bands to a package,

said strap in overlapping relation and means for spot welding said ends together.

11. In a device for applying bands to packurality of bands to a package, means to cut oii predetermined lengths of said bands, and automatically opera le means for gripping said out ofi portions simultaneously near their ends and for passing said ends in opposite directions around said package.

12. In a device for applying straps to packages, 9. table, means for moving a pack age into a predetermined position on said table, means for gripping a strap near each of its ends and for passing said endsaround said package until said ends overlap.

13. In a device for applying straps to packages, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table, means to feed a fiat strap With its edge to- Wards a package, means for gripping said strap near each of its ends and for passing said ends around said package until said ends overlap without permitting said ends to turn circumferentially of said strap.

14. In a devicefor applying straps to packages, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table, means for gripping a strap near each of its ends and for passing said ends around said package until said ends overlap and means for fastening said ends together.

15.- In a device for applying bands to packages, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table, means knives for cutting ofi predetermined lengths of said bands, and means for gripping said cut off portions simultaneously near their ends and for passing said ends in opposite directions around said package.

16. In a device for applying bands to packages, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table, means to feed a plurality of bands to a package, knives for cutting oft predetermined lengths of said bands, means for gripping said out off portions simultaneously near their ends and for passing said ends in opposite directions around sald package and au tomatically operable means for removing said package.

17. 'In a device for applying straps to packages, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table,

means to grip said package, means for gripping a strap near each of its ends and for passing said ends around said package until said ends overlap.

18. In a device for applying straps to packages, means for gripping a strap near each of its ends and for passing said ends around said package until said ends overlap and means for applying substantially the same tension to said strap regardless of material 'erated mechanism for passin variation in the size of thedpackages to which said strap may be applie 19. In a'device for applying straps to bundles, atable, means for moving a packa e into a predetermined position on said tab e, means controlled by said package for feeding straps to said package and automatically operable means for gripping said straps near each of their ends and for passing said ends around said package.

20. In-a device for applying straps to bundles, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table, means controlled by said package for feeding straps to said package, cam operated lever mechanism for simultaneously gripping said straps at their ends and for severing said straps into predetermined lengths and cam operated mechanism for passing said ends around said package' 21. In a device for applying straps to bundles, a table, means for moving a package into a predetermined position on said table,

means controlled by said package for feed- I ing straps to said package, cam operated lever mechanism for simultaneously gripping said straps at their ends and for severing said straps-into predetermined lengths, cam opsaid ends around said package until sai ends overlap and means operating synchronously with the overlapping of the straps for fastening the ends of said straps together.

22. In a device for applying straps to pack-' ages, means for moving a package into a predetermined position, means for feedin straps into position to be applied to said package and means for initiating the operation of said strap feeding means by the movement of said package.

23. In a device for applyingistraps to packages, means for moving a pee age into a predetermined position, means for feeding straps into position to be applied to said package,' means for initiating the operation of said strap feeding means b the movement of said package and means or fastening the ends of said straps together after said straps are applied to said package.

In testimony whereof I affix my si ature.

WALTER S. R AN. 

